Utility player Kevin Lachance and right-handed pitcher Mitchell Aker grew up less than 15 miles apart in the state of Virginia, and have played with or against one another for the better part of the last decade.

Lachance is aiming to rebound after a promising start to his 2018 season with the Frontier League’s Lake Erie Crushers was cut short in June due to injury.

The right-handed hitting Lachance is primarily a middle infielder, but Forney indicated the 24-year-old could see time in the outfield as well.

“He’s done a really good job for us,” Forney said on Lachance. “He plays the game hard. He extended our innings (Friday) night, hitting a groundball that banged off the third baseman’s glove and sprinting down the line. That would have been the final out, but the guy played hard. He’s really doing some good things.”

A native of Clifton, Va., Lachance posted a .347 on-base percentage for Lake Erie and was 10 for 11 in stolen base attempts. During his true rookie season in 2017, Lachance finished with a .387 on-base percentage while playing in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system.

Aker has made two relief appearances in exhibition play. After giving up a run last Wednesday versus Fargo-Moorhead, Aker worked a perfect frame on Friday in which he threw just five pitches.

Also 24, Aker ranked third in the Frontier League in 2018, saving 19 games for the Evansville Otters.

Excellent, he just pounded the zone,” said Forney on Aker’s outing on Friday. “He threw some heat. The (radar) gun wasn’t working, but it was easy in that mid- to upper-90s. The arm speed was fantastic. The ball had good downhill tilt to it. He’s got great stuff. He just needs to learn how to be consistent every day.”

American Association rosters must be trimmed to at least 23 players by 12:00 p.m. this afternoon, and are required to carry at least five classified rookies.

“There’s going to be some tough decisions with what we’re going to do with our roster,” said Forney. “Lachance is pushing a lot of guys right now. It comes down to how many position players we want to start the season with. We like what we’re seeing from a lot of guys. We like the versatility. We’re just going to let this thing play out and see what happens.”

Goldeyes edged by Kansas City

The Winnipeg Goldeyes lost 7-6 to the Kansas City T-Bones in a spring training game at T-Bones Stadium Monday night.

Down 7-2 after seven innings, the Goldeyes rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth on a Kevin Garcia RBI single and a Willy Garcia three-run double. T-Bones’ right-hander Marc Magliaro ultimately stranded Garcia before lefty Nick Lee struck out the side in the top of the ninth to earn the save.

Kansas City scored twice in the first on RBI from Darnell Sweeney and Casey Gillaspie.

Productive outs from Dominic Ficociello and Josh Romanski helped Winnipeg tie the game in the top of the fifth, but the T-Bones responded in the bottom half on a two-out, solo home run from Carlos Franco.

The T-Bones scored four times on one hit in the bottom of the sixth.

WP: Hurlbutt (1-0)

LP: Bender (1-1)

SV: Lee (1)

HR: KC Franco (1)

THE SKINNY: The Goldeyes mounted a late rally, but fell 7-6 to the Kansas City T-Bones to drop to 3-3 in the pre-season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Thomas Collier, who led the American Association with 140 strikeouts in 2018, worked three scoreless innings as Kansas City’s starter.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Former Major League outfielder Daniel Robertson made a mid-air, diving catch in centre to rob Romanski of extra bases and an RBI in the top of the seventh.

UP NEXT: The Goldeyes close out their exhibition schedule against Kansas City at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. The game can be heard live on 93.7 FM.